雲仙市小浜町における温泉発電の地域活性化への活用に関する研究―小浜町の未来可能性の模索―雲仙市小浜町における温泉発電の地域活性化への活用に関する研究―小浜町の未来可能性の模索―A study on the application of geothermal power generation to local revitalization in Obama Town, Unzen City: in consideration of futurability in Obama

This article clarifies the challenges in applying geothermal power generation to local revitalization in Obama Town, Unzen City, Nagasaki, and proposes policy recommendations for solving them in terms of futurability. As a background of this study, Obama Town is located in the western coastal area of the Shimabara Peninsula and famous for hot spring
(Onsen, in Japanese). The town used to thrive on hot spring and salt production, but now, faces depopulation issues due to economic slide and decrease in employment. In accordance with growing demands for renewable energy after the Great East Japan Earthquake, Obama Town was focused on by its geothermal resource. With some bumps and detours, the Obama Onsen Energy was established in 2011 and they succeeded in beginning their business of binary power generation system in 2015, by making use of unused hot spring water, which does not affect the hotel business around there. They sell their electricity by taking
advantage of Feed-in Tariff (FIT). In this way, the town is tackling the next challenges of how they can make the most of that money and unused hot spring water as well as that electricity for revitalizing the Obama. This paper, first of all, overviews recent trends and surroundings about geothermal power generation in both Japan and the rest of the world. This section reveals significance and potential of this project in Japan. Next, our literature survey on local revitalization with renewable energy figures out some challenges in the Obama’s case. The following chapter describes the result of the interview and
questionnaire surveys towards stakeholders and clarifies the reason they have difficulties in their local revitalization with this binary cycle business. This article concludes self-motivated action by each stakeholder and unique countermeasures oriented local characteristics like CRCC can be the key to success.